Comcast announced today that it will double the speeds of two existing Internet tiers at no additional cost in certain markets.

Comcast's Xfinity Blast, which currently offers download speeds of up to 25 Mbps, will now get speeds up to 50 Mbps.

Those with Xfinity Extreme, meanwhile, will get a bump from 50 Mbps to 105 Mbps, Comcast said.

Comcast also announced plans for a new tier, dubbed Xfinity Platinum Internet, for Northeast markets, which will offer download speeds of up to 305 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 65 Mbps.

Platinum service will also include: Xfinity Signature Support, normally $9.95 per month, which provides 27/7 customer support; a wireless gateway for secure home networking; access to a high-speed Internet consultant; and the Constant Guard security suite.

Pricing for the Platinum service was not revealed.

The company said the new Internet options will be available "across many major markets," including Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, and New Jersey.

"More customers are simultaneously connecting to the Internet through tablets, laptops and smartphones within their homes. Whether it's to stream movies, upload photos, video chat with family and friends, or catch all of the Olympics action live on their tablets and connected devices, we want to ensure these consumers are getting the speeds they need," Cathy Avgiris, executive vice president and general manager of data and communications services at Comcast, said in a statement. "We will continue to increase speeds as customer demands evolve. Comcast is committed to providing our customers with even more choices to get the best, fastest and most reliable experience possible."

In May, Verizon pledged to more than double the speeds of several FiOS Internet tiers as well as introduce two additional tiers to the mix. The company's revamped FiOS Internet portfolio includes speed tiers that boast 50/25 Mbps and 150/65 download/upload speeds. The two new offerings, meanwhile, will provide 75/35 or 300/65 Mbps.

In other news, Comcast this week expanded its "quad-play" deal with Verizon Wireless, allowing customers across Florida, in Tucson, Ariz., as well as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, N.M. to purchase Comcast and Verizon Wireless services from either provider.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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